Public Enemy Bum-Rush Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Public Enemy, the firebrand rap crew that urged fans to “fight the power” in the ’90s, is headed to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

PE will be the fourth rap group to be inducted, following Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (2007), Run-D.M.C. (2009) and The Beastie Boys (2012).

At the 2012 ceremony, Public Enemy frontman Chuck D pulled double duty, inducting the Beastie Boys with the help of LL Cool J and inducting Red Hot Chili Peppers with comedian Chris Rock.

PE charged into the fray of rap’s Golden Era with members Flavor Flav, Chuck D, DJ Terminator X, Professor Griff and the S1W security force. Their charging production–whistles, buzzes, DJ scratching–courtesy of the Shocklee Brothers, gave PE a distinct sound that overwhelmed rap records of the time.

As a black militant rap group, PE incited controversy with combative lyrics and anti-establishment messages. At the height of their popularity, Professor Griff, PE’s minister of information, was ousted for anti-Semitic statements.

While Flavor Flav has become known in later years as a reality TV show star, Chuck D has emerged as rap’s elder statesman.

The 28th Annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Thursday, April 18, 2013 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, and it will air on HBO on Saturday May 18 at 9 pm ET. Tickets to attend the ceremony go on sale on January 25. For more information on tickets, go to rockhall.com. —Erik Parker, CBS Local